State Coordinator (Consultant) at Evidence Action

Job purpose

• Evidence Action is seeking a State Coordinator – Nutrition for Kaduna State to provide technical assistance (TA) to the state government for the rollout of the SQ-LNS program. Kaduna is one of nine high-burden states (Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Plateau and Sokoto) where Evidence Action is recruiting one State Coordinator per state.
• The State Coordinator will work closely with relevant state officials to strengthen program planning, implementation and monitoring, and will support program planning and management, supply chain activities, training, and community sensitization at the state level.

Duties and responsibilities
Program Planning and Coordination:

• Coordinate with the state Ministry of Health, Primary Health Care Development Agency, and other relevant government departments on operational planning and effective implementation of the SQ-LNS program.
• Coordinate and collaborate with other SQ-LNS partners and implementing organizations active in the state
• Support state officials to develop a comprehensive SQ-LNS operational plan aligned with national guidelines and state context
• Monitor implementation of state-level workplans and identify and resolve bottlenecks
• Support state officials to use the national SQ-LNS allocation tool for geographic targeting and quantification for SQ-LNS programming
• Facilitate state- and LGA-level planning, review, and dissemination meetings with government stakeholders
• Facilitate engagement with the state government for resource allocation for the procurement of SQ-LNS and sustained program delivery

Training:

• Organize the state and healthcare worker training cascade in coordination with state officials and partners
• Support development of state-specific training materials as needed
• Monitor implementation of training activities at state, LGA, and facility levels

Supply Chain Support:

• Support state officials to develop supply chain protocols and distribution plans
• Conduct remote monitoring to ensure SQ-LNS supplies are delivered to LGA warehouses and health facilities in accordance with the approved distribution plan, and flag stockouts or supply chain bottlenecks
• Coordinate with state officials on quantification and forecasting of SQ-LNS supplies
• Support resource mobilization efforts to sustain and expand SQ-LNS coverage in the state

Community Engagement and Sensitization

• Ensure distribution of information, education, and communication (IEC) materials as planned
• Coordinate community-level engagement workshops to promote awareness of SQ-LNS

Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Collaborate with the zonal MLE personnel to oversee implementation of independent monitoring and coverage surveys by contracted survey firms
• Undertake periodic monitoring visits to LGAs and health facilities (as needed and as security allows)
• Share findings and recommendations with state officials and Evidence Action program management

Key performance Indicators

• Kaduna State SQ-LNS operational plan developed with state officials, aligned with national guidelines, and implemented on schedule
• State and LGA planning, review and dissemination meetings held as planned
• Health worker training cascade completed at state, LGA and facility levels as planned
• SQ-LNS supplies delivered to LGA warehouses and health facilities in line with the approved distribution plan, with stockouts and bottlenecks flagged promptly
• IEC materials distributed and community engagement workshops held as planned
• Independent monitoring and coverage surveys completed in the state, with findings shared with state officials and Evidence Action program management
• Progress on state government resource allocation for SQ-LNS procurement and program delivery

Requirements
Education:

• Bachelor's Degree in Public Health, Nutrition, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Health Sciences, Social Sciences, Development Studies, or a related field required
• A Master's degree in Public Health, Nutrition, Health Systems, Development Studies, or a related discipline is an added advantage

Experience:

• Minimum of five years of experience in nutrition, public health, or child health programming, preferably with government or NGOs in Nigeria
• Experience working with government health systems in Nigeria, preferably in Kaduna State
• Strong relationship-building and coordination skills with government officials, community stakeholders and development partners
• Effective communication (written and verbal), documentation, and reporting skills in English and the local language(s) of the state
• Ability to speak Hausa is required
• Good knowledge of Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Demonstrated skills in work planning and tracking, project management, and coordination
• Experience with using data and tools to support decision-making, and in monitoring and evaluation systems (e.g., DHIS2) is preferable
• Experience in facilitating multi-stakeholder workshops, coordination meetings, and building consensus among diverse partners
• Experience in managing the supply chain for nutrition commodities, including forecasting, procurement, storage, and distribution, particularly in challenging logistical environments
• Familiarity with national nutrition policies, strategies, and guidelines in Nigeria or similar contexts
• Proven experience in developing and delivering training materials and programs for health workers and program staff on nutrition interventions
• Highly motivated to achieve exceptional quality and results, and the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously
• Priority will be given to qualified individuals who are local residents of Kaduna State

Working conditions:

Based in Kaduna (state capital), with periodic monitoring visits to LGAs and health facilities as needed and as security allows.